Chapter 152: There are Demons Here

"How would I know that? Sister, I have never even been to Backing Village!" Tu Xiaomeng replied helplessly.

She Mei'er could not help stamping her foot in anxiety as she said:
"It's all my fault. I had a nightmare last night, dreaming that Yan Chixia ignored me. I was so heartbroken that I wailed bitterly, crying as if my life were over, and I didn't sleep well the whole night... As a result, I woke up late today! Well, let's not talk about that anymore. Mengmeng, tell me quickly, how long ago did Yan Chixia leave? Which direction did he head toward?"

Before Tu Xiaomeng could answer, Master Qingxu smiled and said:
"Hahaha, She Mei'er, there is no need to worry, nor do you need to go after him... Danzi's trip to Backing Village is nothing major; he simply wanted to go back for a visit, so he and Mingzi will be back very soon."

Upon hearing this, She Mei'er felt that what Master Qingxu said made complete sense. Her heart instantly settled, and with a radiant smile, she said:
"What the senior says is very reasonable, I understand! Since Yan Chixia is not here, I cannot learn the [Paper-Drawn Talisman Taoist Magic] today, so I won't waste time here anymore. I must hurry back to Zixia Palace to cultivate. Master Qingxu, Mengmeng, Songta'er, farewell!"

With that, She Mei'er employed the [Qingfeng San] escape technique and returned to Mount Li.

…………………………………………

Yan Chixia drove his flying sword and left Qingxu Temple with Bai Xiaoyue, heading straight in the direction of Youzhou.

It was currently late autumn. The sky was high and the clouds were sparse. Standing upright on the precious sword, Yan Chixia and Bai Xiaoyue flew swiftly among the patches of white clouds with their sleeves fluttering in the wind. Gazing into the distance at the towering mountains and winding rivers beneath their feet, they both felt relaxed, happy, and refreshed.

"Haha..." Bai Xiaoyue suddenly smiled and said, "Danzi, do you still remember the time when the two of us went down the mountain together to buy things in Qixia Town?"

"Of course I remember!" Yan Chixia laughed heartily and said, "At that time, we bought a lot of things and walked down the main street carrying heavy, large bundles in both hands. I said, 'Sister, today we really are returning with a full load.' And you said, 'Yes! Younger brother, looking at us now, we look quite disheveled. Let's hope that the next time we come to buy things, we won't have to carry such large and small bundles, but instead can put everything into our "Storage Rings"..."

"Indeed!" Bai Xiaoyue took over the conversation with a brilliant smile and said, "Danzi, nowadays we not only have 'Storage Rings', but we have also both successfully cultivated the [Paper-Drawn Talisman Taoist Magic]—especially you, who can not only refine golden elixirs, set up 'barrier fields', and master the [Fire-Control Art], but have also cultivated the [Sword-Flying Art]!"

"This is nothing much," Yan Chixia said with high ambition. "Mingzi, although my cultivation has achieved remarkable results, it is still a far cry from my lofty goals. In the future, I must strive even harder to make further progress and cultivate diligently! I aim to cultivate my own 'storage space' within five years; possess the [Avatar Technique] within ten years; forge the 'Shadowless Sword' and master the [Qiankun Slash] sword technique within fifteen years; master the [Wind-Control Art] within thirty years; and acquire the [Blink Technique] within fifty years—by that time, my cultivation will have reached the 'Tribulation Crossing' realm. Afterward, I will spend another fifty years breaking through the 'bottleneck' at the end of the 'Tribulation Crossing' realm to enter the 'Loose Immortal' realm and embark on a true journey of immortal cultivation..."

"Ah!" Bai Xiaoyue exclaimed in irrepressible admiration, "Danzi, this plan of yours is truly magnificent and full of lofty ambitions! I must take you as my role model and formulate a practical 'immortal cultivation plan' for myself as well..."

***

While driving their flying sword and chatting merrily, Yan Chixia and Bai Xiaoyue covered hundreds of miles without realizing it. It was just as the saying goes: the weather is as unpredictable as a stormy sea—originally, when they set out from Mount Zhongnan in the morning, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly; however, at this moment, dark clouds suddenly gathered across the sky... In an instant, the entire sky turned pitch black, and accompanied by a thunderous crash, a torrential downpour began to pour down.

"Oh no!" Bai Xiaoyue cried out in surprise, "The weather was fine just a moment ago, why is it suddenly raining?"

"Indeed!" Yan Chixia said in a loud voice, "The rain is too fierce; we cannot continue flying on the sword. Mingzi, let's find shelter quickly."

With that, he directed the sword to descend... and instantly landed on a mountain peak. Immediately afterward, Yan Chixia waved his hand, and a "umbrella-shaped barrier" was instantly set up above their heads, enclosing both him and Bai Xiaoyue inside to shield them from the assault of the pelting rainstorm.

"Goodness, this rain is simply too heavy!" Standing beneath the "umbrella-shaped barrier," Bai Xiaoyue raised a hand to wipe the rainwater from her face and said loudly.

Standing before her, Yan Chixia also raised a hand to wipe the rainwater from his face and said:
"It really is! Mingzi, I originally planned to be back in Backing Village before sunset today... but I never expected it to suddenly pour rain!"

"Mmm," Bai Xiaoyue nodded. "Danzi, it's a fortunate thing you know how to set up 'barrier fields', otherwise, stranded out here in these desolate mountains and wild ridges with nowhere to hide, the two of us would have become 'drowned rats'!"

Looking at the sky, which was rolling with thunder and flashing with continuous lightning, Yan Chixia said:
"Judging by this flashing lightning and rumbling thunder, the heavy rain won't stop for a while. If things keep up like this, we're likely going to have to spend the night here! Since that's the case, I will use the [Paper-Drawn Talisman Taoist Magic] to activate a wooden house."

Hearing this, Bai Xiaoyue smiled and said:
"Wonderful! Danzi, that way we can sit down and rest our feet."

Glancing around, Yan Chixia noticed that the spot where he and Bai Xiaoyue were standing happened to be a flat patch of ground atop the mountain peak. The nearest trees were a dozen paces away from them, and there were no jagged rocks or shrubs here—only a patch of wild grass, which was just right for placing a small wooden cabin.

He was quite pleased and immediately silently recited the incantation, summoning a piece of talisman paper from his "Storage Ring." Channeling his vital energy to control the talisman paper, he made it suspend and spread flat before him. Then, with another wave of his hand, he summoned his cinnabar ink brush, grasped it in his hand, and began to paint with swift, sweeping strokes...

Before long, the painting was finished. Yan Chixia retrieved the ink brush, grabbed a corner of the "paper-drawn talisman," and gave it a sharp flick. With a flash of golden light, a square wooden cabin with a peaked roof instantly appeared on the grass before them.

"Ah, wonderful!" Bai Xiaoyue said with radiant joy, "Danzi, let's hurry inside..."

***

"Alright!" Yan Chixia agreed, entering the wooden cabin together with Bai Xiaoyue.

Stepping enthusiastically into the wooden cabin, Bai Xiaoyue saw a table set in the very center, with two wooden stools placed before it; a cluster of bright, vibrant flowers sat atop the table, emitting a delightful and pungent fragrance.

"Oh, how cozy it is in here!" Bai Xiaoyue could not help exclaiming, "Danzi, you really are amazing! Haha... this could practically serve as our new bridal chamber!" Having blurted out this final sentence, she immediately realized she had made a slip of the tongue and her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

Hearing this, Yan Chixia felt his heart leap with a start. Catching sight of Bai Xiaoyue's thoroughly bashful expression, he maintained his composure and said:
"Haha... Mingzi, what you said is right, this new house is indeed very cozy!"

Hearing Yan Chixia so cleverly turn her "bridal chamber" into a "new house," Bai Xiaoyue felt a sense of relief wash over her, and with a shy, smiling expression, she said:
"Danzi, sit down quickly."

With a nod, Yan Chixia closed the door and sat down on a wooden stool alongside Bai Xiaoyue.

Outside, thunder continued to roll, and the rain grew even heavier.

Because she was safely ensconced within the wooden cabin, Bai Xiaoyue felt completely calm and at ease. Hearing the howling wind and pounding rain outside, she even found herself wishing for the storm to rage more fiercely, saying:
"Pour, pour away! Let's see how long you can keep raining."

"Haha..." Yan Chixia laughed as he picked up the thread of the conversation, "Mingzi, we aren't afraid this time! Sitting here in the wooden house, no matter how fierce the wind and rain are, they can't do a thing to us..." Before he could finish his sentence, his brow suddenly furrowed as he said, "Oh no, there is demonic aura here!"